I read the iconic comic book story that this season of The Flash on television is loosely based around. The comic tells a heartbreaking story and if you are a fan of the TV show, I highly recommend taking a look at this graphic novel.

I got one last trail run in late last season. It was kind of late in the evening for me to be doing it too. It was dark by the time I completed the 5 kilometer run. But it was fun. I’m already sad that this year’s running season has come to a close. I will be blogging a bit more about it this month, however.

“Sampling is perhaps one of the least understood concepts about modern music, and, in particular, hip-hop. But believe it or not, some very respected musicians have worked with this form and even helped develop it. Artists that you would be surprised to hear about. Artists like The Beatles.” – click through to read more.

My father really enjoyed the Planet of the Apes movies. I vividly recall watching them together on television when I was growing up. I’m not sure I completely understood what they were about, but I remember enjoying them nonetheless.

When the film series was rebooted in 2011, I was pleasantly surprised by how the filmmakers respected what I thought was the source material. There were all sorts of Easter Eggs and ties to the original 1968 theatrical film.

I brought the DVD over to my dad’s place and we watched it together again, all those years later. Unfortunately, he passed away and I can’t talk to him about my discovery of the novel that sparked the whole Apes phenomenon.

Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Published in French in 1963 under the title of La Planète des Singes, the original novel is quite a bit different than the 1968 film adaptation. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As I read the book, I looked forward to rewatching the original movie so I could compare and contrast the two.

Planet of the Apes (1968 film)

I hate that this poster shows the finale of the movie. I admit that it is an iconic image but it is also a spoiler and it bugs me that the film is still advertised like this. This shot was even on the DVD menu when I watched the film again last week. Even more pointed is that this scene doesn’t exist in the novel.

The astronauts in the film actually do visit an alien world. The monkeys speak a different language and it is up to the main character to find a way to communicate with them and show his intelligence. The human characters on this planet also don’t wear any clothes. They are completely naked. I can see how both of these points needed to be changed for the movie. It only makes sense.

It made sense for the monkeys to speak English, for the main character to be called Taylor as opposed to Ulysse. But the film version did need to find a way that Taylor couldn’t just talk right away. He had to be caged up like an animal and suffer through that. In the film, he is shot in the throat and it takes him some time to recover his voice.

The novel explores the notion that primates are good at imitating and that something must have happened for them to be able to imitate man so well. Both the film and novel explore the idea that apes derived from man. But the novel is able to explore this notion in much more detail.

The film and the novel both explore an archaeological dig that uncovers human artifacts that don’t make sense in a Simian society. In the movie, the native human characters are completely mute, but in the novel, they make animal utterances and noises. Not sure why they didn’t in the film version.

In the novel, the main character is a little more likable. He is not a know-it-all as portrayed by Charlton Heston in the film. Nova is also described as the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. That didn’t seem to translate so well to film.

Another theme in the novel is the one of rebuilding a human society. Ulysse feels like it is his mission to do so. He actually has a child with Nova. The authorities see this child as a threat though and a few monkey friends help him return to his spaceship. The three of them finally make it back to Earth, but due to the realities of space travel over long distances, they arrive thousands of years later . . . only to find that the same pattern of evolution has happened. It’s a scene that resonates just as well as the Statue of Liberty scene in the movie.

If you like the movies, I recommend giving the book a try. That is if I haven’t given away too many spoilers for you.

Live-N-Direct is celebrating 20 years on the airwaves with a big show this Friday at The Spice Factory in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I am proud to be part of the celebrations and holding down the night on the 1s and 2s.

I have been a fan of this radio program from the very beginning. It was always a pleasure to turn on 93.3 CFMU and hear DJ Realistic cutting it up with great music, transitions, and mixes. Eklipz held in down on the microphone as the host and together their program delivered real hip-hop music and talk.

The baton has been passed a few times, but the show has continued to bless the airwaves every Saturday night from 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. since its debut in 1996. The show is now hosted by RashDon and The Oddfella and they are planning a huge celebration this Friday.

I love reading comics. I pretty much always have a graphic novel on the go. Here are the latest ones that I have read.

Powerless

I was pleasantly surprised by this story set in an alternate universe where there are no super-heroes. Peter Parker was still bitten by a spider but instead of becoming Spider-Man, he gets a limp arm instead. Matt Murdoch is still a blind lawyer, but doesn’t have his heightened senses. Wolverine doesn’t have retractable claws but he does have knives that are quite similar and he has been trained to kill.

These three characters are tied together by a therapist who has glimpses of their more colourful lives in an alternate reality. He feels as if he knows them somehow and he does his best to help them.

It’s an interesting read and well worth your time.

Wolverine: Season One

This graphic novel is part of a series that focuses on the early days of the super-heroes we all know and love. It’s an origin story that sees Wolverine going head-to-head with The Hulk, Wendigo, and The Weapon X program. That’s exactly what I wanted to see and I liked the new take on familiar territory.

Old Man Logan

Wolverine is an old man. He has a family now and has given up being a super-hero. The world is a dark place and he is doing his best to survive in it. So, when he suddenly finds himself back in the past, he believes he was brought there for a reason, to get the world back on track and avert the post-apocalyptic world that will surely come to bear if he doesn’t act.

To the outside world and the current superheroes though, he seems like a fanatic who is just on a killing spree. And it seems like he might not come from the same timeline as all of them either. This is part of an on-going series and it is interesting to see an older-adult charcater in mainstream comics.

When I first heard of this title, I really had no interest in reading it. After all, he is probably the least exciting member of The Avengers. But the praise for the book has been strong, so when I saw it on the shelves of the public library, I had to pick it up.

I must say that I really enjoyed this one a lot. The humour in it is priceless. It’s along the lines of what was done in The Avenger films as well. I knew I had to read the entire series.

Hawkeye: Volume 2 – Little Hits

I love how this volume starts much like the last one. Hawkeye is in an impossible situation and wondering how he gets in these predicaments. There are some stand-alone stories in this collection including a great one about his dog. T

Hawkeye: Volume 3 – L.A. Woman

This volume focuses on Kate Bishop, the other Hawkeye. She breaks it off with Clint and heads to L.A. where she quickly finds herself in the kind of predicaments he usually finds himself in.

Hawkeye Volume 4: Rio Bravo

Clint’s brother enters the picture and they fight like brothers do, or maybe worse. This volume concludes the epic first run of the series. I was sad to see it end. It was a great story from a great creative team. I highly recommend it.

Hawkeye: Volume 5 – All New Hawkeye

This graphic novel takes Hawkeye in a different direction than the last series. It is a new creative team collecting All New Hawkeye 1- 5. It has flashback scenes that show Hawkeye as a kid and how his brother used to take care of him.

Hawkeye: Volume 6 – Hawkeyes

The flash forward scenes in this one quite comical. And like Old Man Logan, it’s nice to see older adults in comic book adventures. That’s not something that is seen very often. I should know, I just did a report on it for school. I think I will post my slides here later. Stay tuned!

Hosting this event is the duo of YTV’s Pj Phresh Phil & Bradie Whetham! Pj Phil was a mainstay in the 90s with his show The Zone. He is the current host of Session X and will be bringing his 90s Retro Vibe with him.

Bradie W is a Canadian actor and entertainer known for his roles on such shows as; Goosebumps & Wind At My Back. Bradie is also a musician and will be performing a set for the first time in over 3 years.

First Ever by N2W ( CAN YOU BATTLE ? )Open Mic Rap Battle…

There will be a open mic rap battle one hour before the show starts over AdD beat’s, with special guest judges. If you win the battle, you will win some merch ,2 exclusive beats, and a feature with a Secret Society artist. You will also get a spot on the next North2West Promotions Show in any city )

All you need is a $10 ticket, or pay at the door to take part. The battle is at 8:00 p.m.

BIOS

Doug Crawford

Doug Crawford, also known as one half of the Canadian rap group Secret Society, has broken out as a solo artist and is bringing his impetuous flow to the masses. Crawford’s ability to channel his thoughts and feelings into astute and opulent rhymes is what continues to draw in the fans, and the release of his 3rd album F.A.M.E – For All My Efforts makes a strong statement about his talent, his work ethic, and his drive to break through.

Crawford’s LA upbringing seeded the inspiration for his future endeavors and laid the foundations for working with some of the same artists that he grew up listening to – having opened for Ice Cube, Mobb Deep, and Snoop Dogg among others.

Crawford has sold tens of thousands of albums and collaborated with legends of the game, including Royce Da 5’9″, The Outlawz, and Obie Trice. His reach only widens via extensive international press attention and radio play, yet Doug Crawford’s focus remains about the impact his music can have on others. In his own words, “I work hardest on improving my music and changing it with the times.” He’s ambitious, up and coming, and hard to miss; Doug Crawford’s time is now.

Doug has been taking the global scene by storm now performing to larger audience than ever before. With fans now spanning the globe Doug is poised for breakthrough success. Watch for Doug Crawford to establish a serious international presence for himself in the near future!

Tyrone Parsons is an actor, best-known for the role of T, a member of J-Roc’s Roc Pile. from Trailer Park Boys.

Parsons was born and raised in Lucasville, Nova Scotia. Tyrone has had an active rap career under the name Knucklehead. Since 1993, beginning with an association with Atlantic rap troupe DJ Ruckus and Mad Craz. This association landed him a record contract under which he collaboratively released two albums and conducted three tours with other rappers.

After appearing in a music video by Classified, he began to make the move to TV, landing an audition with Mike Clattenburg who was casting the Trailer Park Boys series at the start of its run. Even after landing the role of T, Parsons remained in the rap game, signing first with Change The Game Records (home to Anonamyss), then left with some the artists under this label to form Musik Overmatter, an independent label. Since then he has played a major part in the production and release of several albums, and released his first solo record, KnuckleUp in 2005, and a Mad Craz record in 2008.

In the show, T is sometimes referred to as T-Knuckles, a subtle nod to Parsons’ real life rap persona.

I really enjoyed having data on my phone last year and using this running app. It gave me all sorts of interesting data on my running times, distance, and habits. Too bad I had to get rid of data this year. I just couldn’t afford it anymore. I really did miss this app though.

Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents: Who they are, What they want, and How to win them over

Jeff Herman knows the publishing world and is dedicated to share that knowledge with fellow writers. He tells the story of how he got into the business and provides advice for writers on how they can crack into a world that can seem impenetrable.

Herman has been producing this book for over twenty-five years. He writes, “Much has changed and much has remained the same since my journey in publishing began in the 1980s.” That is why he continually updates and improves this reference book every year.

There are 600 pages of up-to-date information, contacts, interviews, and advice that are invaluable for any writer wishing to get their work published. Besides providing the names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails for publishers, editors, and agents, Herman provides insider tips so we can make the most of our inquiries, query letters, and pitches.

This is one of my favourite guidebooks for writers. It is well written, excellently organized, and offers advice that any aspiring writer can follow. I recommend picking it up and following through to make your publishing dreams come true.

I need to do just that. It’s well past time that I take some of the advice offered in this book and work on getting my fiction published. That is something I have been procrastinating on for way too long.

I know that life gets in the way and sometime blogging has to take a back seat. It certainly has for me this summer.

When I started this blog back in 2007, I wrote five posts a week. I brought that down to three posts in the past year or so and unfortunately, I let it really slide this summer.

I just haven’t had the time to write, collect, plan, and publish posts this summer. I haven’t had time to find new blogs and build relationships through comments, linking, and genuine conversation either.

This is a great skatepark that is actually illuminated at night. I was surprised to see the street lights there one evening that I stopped by. It was so well lit that there weren’t any awkward shadows or dark spots. Definitely a great place to skate.

Every year at this time, I like to take stock of my life and reflect on all of the blessings I have.

It’s one of the reasons that I like Thanksgiving. I love getting together with the family and have a nice dinner, but I also like reflecting on my life and all of the good things that are in it.

This year has been a challenging one, that’s for sure. But through challenge and adversity, we grow and develop.

So, here is my list of things that I am grateful for right now.

My Fiance

She understands me in a way that no one else ever has. She is thoughtful and caring, and I love her so much. I am so happy that she said, “Yes!” when I popped the question a few months back. I was waiting for us to get official engagement photos do before telling the story here. Stay tuned!

Music

Music has been a constant companion of mine and something that has always helped me deal with the harsh realities of life. I love it so much. I am thankful that my latest project is with a man I respect as a person and an artist, DJ Hullewud. The MIX(ed)TAPE is available now on cassette, CD, and digital download.

Silent Cacophony

I haven’t been blogging as much as I used to, but this platform, and this online space is still very important to me. I appreciate all of my readers and the opportunity to share things with each and every one of you.

DJing

Deejaying has brought me to some pretty amazing heights this year. I have done countless concerts, radio shows, and even a few weddings. And I even have an official mixtape release on cassette (see above). I am so proud of that project!

University

I am pursuing a Masters of Library and Information Science right now on a part-time basis. I am very excited to earn a degree and get started on a new career. I am thankful for the opportunity to continue learning new things and growing as a person.

I am thankful for potato chips. Whenever I want a quick snack, you are there. Thank you!

Peanut Butter

I could have peanut butter for toast every day and never get bored of it. Thank you!

My Health

Despite having problems with my back and my rotator cuff this year, I am a healthy, young man with lots of energy. I know that I often take this for granted. I shouldn’t. I am very thankful for my health.

Teaching

I quit last year, but there is a teacher permanently ingrained into my soul. I might not want to do it as a profession in the traditional manner anymore, but I am thankful that I have had the chance to supply teach a few times this month. It reminded me why I love teaching and that I still can do it.

Writing

I am thankful that I write, that I have some work that is almost ready for publication, and for the avenue to express myself. I really need to get to work on getting published. Remind me, please. Motivate me to put myself out there.

Ghettosocks is a JUNO nominated artist who has pushed his unique brand of rap music across Canada, Europe, South America, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the United States. His unorthodox songwriting style and energetic live performances have placed Socks in high demand both nationally and internationally. Constantly touring various regions of Canada, numerous American tours, five European tours, two Japanese tours, plus two tours of Australia and an introductory tour of Southeast Asia, Socks has become a seasoned performer. Aside from providing support for a long list of legends, Socks has been headlining increasingly more, making him an act to check for.

DJ Hullewud and DJ Chase March present . . .

The MIX(ed)TAPE

Bringing it back with an old-school deejay style mixtape, with exclusive new hip-hop that is actually mixed. DJ Hullewud tackles Side A and Chase March takes on the second side.

This project is available on limited edition cassette. We have only printed 50 of them and they will be numbered. Once they are gone, they are gone. No more will be printed. So, make sure you come and get your copy tonight!

In a week, we will have a digital download and CDs available. The cassette has bonus content on it not available on the digital or CD versions, however.

Come on out for a great night of hip-hop music live. Hope to see you there!

It’s been a while since I added items to my Daredevil collection. It was long overdue, wasn’t it?

I picked the baseball cap up at Fan Expo last month and the plushie at a store in the mall.

I couldn’t believe that there is such as thing as Daredevil air-fresheners. I don’t even use air-fresheners in my car. I hate to have things hanging from my rear-view mirror. But I bought this pack just because.

Daredevil is my favourite super-hero and I love skateboarding. What an awesome piece!

These two pieces were given to me as birthday gifts for the past two years. I love them so much!

I started collecting Pop figures. I have Matt Murdock and Daredevil in his Yellow, Red, and Netflix costumes. There is one other figure that I need to add to this collection, a Man Without Fear black-costumed-figure. I hope to get it soon.

I don’t wear jewelry but this Daredevil necklace is gorgeous. It is metal and an official Marvel product.

I can’t quite add this to my collection, but I did see a really cool Daredevil panel at Fan Expo this year featuring Joe Quesada, Charlie Cox, and Elden Henson. And I took this photo.

The last thing I recently added to my collection is an autograph from Tim Sale. Its from Daredevil: Yellow, one of my all-time favourite books. I love everything about it. The story is amazing and it even explains why Daredevil had a yellow costume in his early days of crime fighting something that was previously never explained)

It was a pleasure meeting and talking to Tim Sale about origin stories and the work he has done in comics. Fan Expo was a lot of fun this year.

Nine artists will test their skills against one another bringing the best set they can to conquer the gauntlet and walk away with the title and a wad of cash!

The Gauntlet Battle Tournament will also be going down. The eight battle emcees have put their cash and pride on the line to deliver the fans what is sure to be some of the best battle content London and Youtube have seen in some time.

Who will Rise to the Challenge and who will fall to the Gauntlet?

You know Brewza Music never forgets the fans. Be there in house for your chance at Some crazy prizes from Brewza and the illest sponsors over at Neon Crab Tattoo And Five Star Barber Shop!

DJ Wiskaz and I, Chase March, will be on the 1s and 2s all night long.

Alex + Ada is a brilliant comic book series that has been collected in three graphic novels. It is set in a future that feels not too far off from our own.

In this future, there are androids that look completely human. They are required to have a marking on their arms to identifies them as being artificial. They are very expensive so only a few well-off people own one.

One such owner is Alex’s grandmother. She uses it for companionship after the loss of her husband, Alex’s grandfather. So when he goes through an emotional break-up and is feeling very alone, she decides to give him on of these androids as a gift.

Spoiler Alert

Alex is conflicted. He doesn’t really want an android. He doesn’t like the idea of using one as a sexual partner (as is the norm in this society). But he opens up the box and is introduced to a blank slate. He was disappointed that she had no name and couldn’t make decisions for herself. He wanted something more.

Alex soon learns that all the androids are capable of becoming self-aware. It is illegal to crack the programming as the government has strict rules and regulations preventing machines from gaining sentience. But he does it anyway.

I loved the story, the art, the pacing, and the characters. I also like how it relates to the technology we use today. Many of our devices have locks that limit our use.

This story felt strangely familiar. I bet this is a future that could very well happen. And it wasn’t scary at all. It’s a nice take on AI (artifical intelligence) and a great read!

My List of 2016 Reads (I need to update this list with many more titles I have recently read so stay tuned)